A brief summary of the texts on pp. 4–92 with biographical notes

John Aage Gjestrum was born in the village of Bøverbru in Toten municipality, close to the lake Mjøsa in Southeast Norway. In his early teens he was deeply influenced by Johannes Sivesind, who was then director of Toten Museum and over the years came to serve as John Aage’s inspiring mentor. Sivesind left Toten in 1967. Ten years later, after having completed his studies, John Aage returned to Toten to become museum director. He was only 24 years old, which was in those days sensational for a museum director in Norway.